Microsoft exec says iPhone 4 is “Apple’s Vista”

The iPhone 4 is as big a misstep for Apple as the Vista OS was to Microsoft, an exec at the software firm has suggested.

Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner highlighted Apple’s troubles with the iPhone 4, with alleged reception problems leading to law suits, recall rumours, and now a surprise press conference scheduled for tomorrow.

It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I’m OK with that

“It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I’m OK with that,” Turner told attendees of the Worldwide Partner Conference, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

“You’re going to be able to use a Windows Phone 7 and not have to worry about how you’re holding it to make a phone call,” Turner said, adding Apple’s apparent errors had Microsoft doing “cartwheels,” as Microsoft is set to release its next-generation mobile operating Windows Phone 7 by the end of the year.

Microsoft could use some good news in the mobile space, with CEO Steve Ballmer this week apologising for missing a generation on the mobile platform – after the firm killed off its own Kin mobile phone.

Turner’s comments are also likely to raise eyebrows given his use of the much criticised Windows Vista as a joke, when Microsoft is trying to convince users to upgrade from the much more popular XP.

Targets Google, too

Turner also took on Google, drawing attention to the Wi-Fi data collection debacle, which could see it end up in US or European courts. “We’re not soliciting vans to drive your neighborhood and spy on you, snoop your Wi-Fi,” he said.

Microsoft is seen by some – including its own executives – as becoming an unlikely under-dog in the tech world, with its rivals winning more positive press coverage and Apple surpassing it in market value.